Hawaii (Big Island) Warnings and Dangers

Yes, you want a souvenir of your vacation but do not remove any lava rocks. As superstition goes; removal of the rocks angers the volcano goddess Pele and brings bad luck to the person. So just go buy a souvenir from ABC...
"Take only pictures; leave only footprints." "Take only gifts you are given (like flower lei’s); and leave only with Aloha."

There are a number of dangers around any sort of lava. Obviously, you do not want to get to close to running lava and you absolutely must not touch it. For solidified lava, it is easy to break through a thin, overhanging crust of lava or trip on a crack and fall on the abrasive surface. Near the shore you have to be careful of lava benches...

This area can be dangerous if you suffer with any kind of respiratory condition, such as asthma or emphysema. Also not advisable if you are a 'Mom in Waiting' or children.
The fumes from the gases are very strong, so even if you don't have medical problems, keep away from vents with yellow around them.

Lyme Disease - Caused by a bacteria which is transmitted to animals or humans through a bite from an infected tick. The CDC has reported that the tick that carries the Lyme Disease is found in 48 of the 50 states, Hawaii is one of them.
It is said that in about 50% of humans infected there is a characteristic rash or lesion called erythema...

the island have deep water so stay off the water during sun rise or sun set....those are the times that sharks feed....this is a old hawaiian tample to the spirit sharks...they pray before they go in the water, that they promise if the shark will no eat the a life their family will feed their flash to the sharks after their dead

We were warned in advance about the multiple dangers of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and especially the Halema'uma'u Overlook. You can geuss them:
* Don't go to close to the rim, it's quite a drop whenever you fall;
* Be in good shape, beacuse the hike towards is not easy;
* Et cetera.
But we didn't hear of one other danger; if you are...

It's always important to be aware of the sun. Relaxing on a beautiful beach with a breeze can make you easily forget to check you skin for signs of a sunburn. We always slather on the sunblock; usually SPF 100 and make sure to re-apply requently. Liz and I both brings hats to ensure our faces do not fry in the sun.
The best thing to do is avoid...

This beach looks so idyllic that it's easy to forget that those waves out there are VERY powerful. When we came in Nov 2006, my husband got caught in one of those waves and got slammed to the beach. He sprained his shoulder. He did go to the lifeguard station and they must be so used to injuries like that as they made him a shoulder sling right...

I'll add them all here. First and foremost bring a 1.5 liter bottle of water with you. You can buy it at any store you stop in to here so there isn't a shortage. I actually had to refill at a water fountain cause I drank it all not even half way.
The trails itself vary in terrain from giant roots, paved street, jagged lava, and packed in gravel...

If you don't want to part with your belongings; don't leave them in your car. It is quite common to have your car broken into here so be careful. Leave items in the trunk and not visible to passers by.

The Hawaiians call them Pali. Scientists call them fault scarps. Most of us would call them cliffs. But by whatever name you call them, they can be deadly especially along the seacoast close to the Chain of Craters road.
These cliffs are common both around the summit calderas and close to the ocean. Those cliffs on the ocean are being constantly...

The gases emenating from Hawaii's volcanoes are cool -- so unique they even have their own name: vog (for volcanic smog). But they also can be a health hazard -- especially on breezeless days. In fact, the residents of the nearby town of Volcano actually have the same respiratory problems you would expect of someone living in Seoul or Beijing,...

As everyone knows, the temperature of molten lava is extreme. Even if it is not "red hot," recent lava flow can also be hot just beneath the surface and certain types of cooled or hard lava can be extremely sharp, jagged and slice through skin and shoes. You are advised to wear hardsoled shoes when tranversing any cooled lava flows and just don't...

Many of the more popular beaches have life guards, but many of the more secluded beaches do not. Please abide by the signs posted . . . no swimming means NO swimming. A "CLOSED" beach is for the protection of the people. Sometimes it's because of the high surf, and dangerous under currents, sometimes it means there's a shark in the area, and...

If you decide to hike Kileau I would recommend that you come prepared. The terrain is very uneven with smooth and jagged lava formations which can cause you to slip and even take a fall. Make sure to bring a first aid kit. On our 8+ hour hike to the edge of the lava flow we encountered many dangers and we were glad we did some reading and prepared...

Lyme Disease - Caused by a bacteria which is transmitted to animals or humans through a bite from an infected tick. The CDC has reported that the tick that carries the Lyme Disease is found in 48 of the 50 states, Hawaii is one of them. It is said that in about 50% of humans infected there is a characteristic rash or lesion called erythema migrans...

Luckily, I read this warning before my trip and was glad to know about it in advance. The police are out to get speeders! There are long stretches of highway from one city to the next and not many crossroads or lights to slow you down. So, it's easy to forget about how fast you are going. There are many, and I'm mean many, maximum speed zones that...

Wherever there is foliage and flowers you will find bugs. Mosquitos and Ticks in particular are the nasty critters you want to be wary of. My wife and I always travel with bug repellent (OFF) so we don't go home with any bug bites as souvenirs.

The Big Island has some beautiful sights to see but many of them require walking/hiking over rugged terrain or uneven surfaces. Make sure you take the appropriate footwear such as a good pair of hiking books if you are to venture into the more untamed lanscape. In particular when visiting Volcano National Park; wear good hiking boots; your feet...

If you don't want to part with your belongings; don't leave them in your car. It is quite common to have your car broken into here so be careful. Leave items in the trunk and not visible to passers by.

Yes, tourists can be idiots at times. We overheard many a tourist talk about how different Hawaii is to the United States... Hawaii is the United States you ***, just like Puerto Rico belongs to the US and is not its own country !!!!! Uggg...how frustrataing it was to hear it and watch native Hawaiians cringe.

It is very important to pay attention to posted signs. During our explorations there were signs posted to alert you to many dangers; landslides, falling rocks, dangerous cliffs and unsafe swimming areas. If you want a safe visit without need of a hospital or hearse; pay attention to the warnings.

The Big Island does see alot of Rain which at times can be quite heavy, lasting several days. Flooding can occur and walking trains can become unsafe. Make sure to pay attention to trail markers, warning signs and to use good judgement. During our trip we arrived after a long bout of rain. Sveral roadways still had evidence of flooding and some...

Yes, you want a souvenir of your vacation but do not remove any lava rocks. As superstition goes; removal of the rocks angers the volcano goddess Pele and brings bad luck to the person. So just go buy a souvenir from ABC..."Take only pictures; leave only footprints." "Take only gifts you are given (like flower lei’s); and leave only with Aloha."

It's always important to be aware of the sun. Relaxing on a beautiful beach with a breeze can make you easily forget to check you skin for signs of a sunburn. We always slather on the sunblock; usually SPF 100 and make sure to re-apply requently. Liz and I both brings hats to ensure our faces do not fry in the sun.The best thing to do is avoid peak...

The cloudy, humid Steam looks harmless but... The steam contain hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide in which prolonged exposure especially inhaling too much of it can be very dangerous which results breathing problems(Dyspnoe)and when longer exposure with lower dosage will damage the lung function and cause lung disease. Hydrogen sulfide is...

See this barefooten Lady? It is my niece! She walked with Sandals all around. And then removed her sandals showing to the world that the Lava stones and rocks are harmless. Please don´t follow or imitate this. It is your own risk if you do the same she did. Lava rocks can be scharp or even hot and it will hurt you´ll never know.

In the afternoon, after exploring the Onomea Trail, the Botanical Gardens and the Akaka Falls a time for lunch has arrived. Driving north we were checking the map looking for the next biggest town that would DEFINITELY have some choices of restaurants. Yeah, right!!!! Honokaa was marked on the map as a large town, what we totally forgot is that...

Nene is the name of the Hawaiian goose and the official bird of the state of Hawaii. This goose can only be found on the Islands and it is endangered. In fact, it is known as the world’s rarest goose. Driving around the island you’ll notice many road signs warning you about the crossing geese. You’ll spot them along the road and they seem to be...

Do not go here durring hurricane season. This is such a dissapointmen discovering that the beaches and most roads are being closed due to a hurricane coming. Stuff will more then likely be cancelled if you have activities planned and then you have to reschedule. We were there when hurricane flossie was supposed to hit and the first day we got in...

My main complaint about Hawaii is the big bugs - the grossest? Cockroaches. Yuck. The closer you are to the water the more likely you'll see them. They wander around like they own the place! Keep the doors closed so they don't wander in that way. Also there are big flying bugs in the evening.

The gases emenating from Hawaii's volcanoes are cool -- so unique they even have their own name: vog (for volcanic smog). But they also can be a health hazard -- especially on breezeless days. In fact, the residents of the nearby town of Volcano actually have the same respiratory problems you would expect of someone living in Seoul or Beijing,...

If you walk out to where the lava is flowing into the ocean you need to be extremely careful. You are basically walking over the top of cooled lava tubes and if you slip and fall the lava rock is sharp enough to cut you to pieces.

Some people don't know just how brutal the "tropical sun" can be. Even if you have a base tan... WEAR SUNSCREEN! Its a safe precaution anyways, but the sun in the tropics will burn you without you even knowing that you are getting burnt. Becoming a lobster on your first day of vacation is an easy way to ruin the rest of it!!

The distance between Kailua-Kona to Cowboy country - Waimea (a.k.a. Kamuela) is roughly 40 miles. I much rather drive the upper road because of its scenic beauty. The destination, Waimea, is at 2,400 (or 800 Meter) elevation. This town has its own charm, and it's worth the visit. BUT, the driving to Waimea from Kona can be very challenging for...

When you go to the volcanoes, you can walk to near where the lava goes into the ocean. You start walk there late afternoon and then wait until it's dark so you can see the glowing lava. There are ropes everywhere and you need to stay behind them. People have gone missing here before because "new lava" is very unstable and sometimes whole parts just...

This is more or less debunking a commonly stated danger... Saddle Road that runs across the island isn't that bad at all. Yes you may end up driving through a cloud and around some fairly sharp turns, but if you drive like you have some sense you should make it to the other side.

It may seem superstitious, but it is strongly believed by many that taking rocks/dirt/sand home as a keepsake brings much bad luck to whoever does so. I'd heard this many times over the years, but it wasn't until I was chatting with the ranger at Volcano Park that I really believed. She took me into a storeroom filled with packages of rocks and...

For years, we have all been told of the importance of water. The general guideline has been to drink 2 litre of water each day. For a person who is not living an active lifestyle this may be enough, but if you are physically active, you need more water than that. That is especially true if you are hiking at the Big Island of Hawaiidue to the fact...

The Big Island has more green turtles than any other island. In the past few years they have started the habit of coming ashore to rest / sunbathe?. For whatever reason they come ashore, please leave them be. They need their rest. It is recommended you stay at least 15 feet away.

Hawaii is essentially nothing but lava rock. From a distance it looks very smooth, but up close lava rock is very rough and coarse - not something you'd want to slip and fall on. When walking about on lava rock it is important to wear appropriate shoes and keep your wits about you to avoid a nasty and painful fall.

The Big Island is beautiful, but driving is dangerous, worse at night and drunk driving is popular. Read these links for more info.Map of Fatal Crashes on the Big Island, Where to Be Really Careful - North Hawaii Outcomes Project (NHOP)http://www.nhop.org/documents/LocationsofFatalMVRCinHC96-04Poster.pdfNews Story: Alcohol-related traffic...

And remember, its deserted. Yes there is a toilet about halfways where the roads split. Make sure that your clothes are layered and that you have both combo for hot sun and for a thunderstorm. Its pretty windy up there too. One more very important tip: please take pain killers with you because the air up there is very thin and before you know it...

Although we didn't encounter any problems (this was mainly because we were extremely careful and heeded the warnings) we saw plenty of evidence of other less fortunate tourists.Everywhere, in road side parking spots we encountered broken car window glass where some unlucky soul had left his/her wallet/camera/equipment while they went for a hike.If...